I take back my endorsement of this game. Online head to head gaming is unacceptable. Players can quit before half and receive no change in record, only an increase to their DNF%. My 3 minutes invested in a game are wasted, I get no win, no coins, no nothing. I only have about 1-2 hrs of gameplaying a day, and last night I ended up with 3 losers who quit on me.

So stupid of EA to do this... give them a Loss if they quit within 1 minute of kickoff. I've played over 10 games, I have a 3-1 record and I've only seen the end game stats twice and one was my loss.

I am into year two. Won the superbowl against the chargers. I was winning 40-14 pretty much every game so I upped the difficulty to a custom setting in between All-Pro and All-Madden. Its a lot tougher to win games now and I end up going to the 3rd or 4th quarter before I begin to pull away.

I drafted a RG with my1st round pick (Unger at Center). He is great in pass block, but is horrible in run block. He is a revolving door that the DT can get passed in less than a second. Got a little bit of depth with other positions.

One of my biggest weaknesses throughout season 1 was my running game and my defensive pressure form the right side. I traded for Kiwanuka (of the giants) but ended up giving up my 1st rounder as apart of the deal. It sucked to give up the first, but I managed to get some extra 2nd's and 3rd's through some other trades. I also went out and got Jonathan Stewart in a trade from the Panthers. I gave up Hasselbeck a 2nd and a 3rd for him. He has revitalized my mundane running game and has really put me over the top. I do alright with CBJ at QB, no instant need.

ARghghhhghhaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! They need to release Madden for Windows again. I will not buy a damn console for ONE GAME. It's so easy to port an Xbox game to Windows, it's retarded! After watching the clip Doce linked with the crowd going Hoooooooooooooooooooush, I really really really really want to play it

Galen96 wrote:buy a refurbished one, or one on craigslist with a effed up dvd-drive... it costs 40 bucks to fix em, so you could get the console on the cheap.

Money is not the reason I don't own a console. Hell, I just spent $430 on a Radeon HD 5870 video card for my computer. I'm simply not a fan of gaming sans keyboard & mouse. I'm a control freak in my games, and the idea of adequately controlling many games with just a controller is laughable at best for people that like to micro-manage things in games the way I do.

Not to mention, I like to run better graphics than consoles allow for.

Fine, if you interpreted it that way...but some of us don't like bottom-feeding in regards to video games. Consoles nowadays are like an average 4-door sedan, a good gaming computer is like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Some of us don't want the average gaming experience. If you think that's elitist, so be it. I've got legitimate reasons as to why I prefer computer gaming over console gaming in a major way.

RolandDeschain wrote:Fine, if you interpreted it that way...but some of us don't like bottom-feeding in regards to video games. Consoles nowadays are like an average 4-door sedan, a good gaming computer is like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Some of us don't want the average gaming experience. If you think that's elitist, so be it. I've got legitimate reasons as to why I prefer computer gaming over console gaming in a major way.

Sort of offended at the "bottom-feeding in regards to video games" bit...My console gaming experience is by no means average. Its not like I am sitting here playing GameCube. I love and enjoy every second of my gaming with my console. It just isn't so with my PC, or even with great PC's I have used.

RolandDeschain wrote:Fine, if you interpreted it that way...but some of us don't like bottom-feeding in regards to video games. Consoles nowadays are like an average 4-door sedan, a good gaming computer is like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Some of us don't want the average gaming experience. If you think that's elitist, so be it. I've got legitimate reasons as to why I prefer computer gaming over console gaming in a major way.

Believe me when I say that I'm right there with you... But that is why I payed $200.00 and got an XIM2 for my xbox... now I can use my keyboard and mouse with any games..

RolandDeschain wrote:Fine, if you interpreted it that way...but some of us don't like bottom-feeding in regards to video games. Consoles nowadays are like an average 4-door sedan, a good gaming computer is like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Some of us don't want the average gaming experience. If you think that's elitist, so be it. I've got legitimate reasons as to why I prefer computer gaming over console gaming in a major way.

Sort of offended at the "bottom-feeding in regards to video games" bit...My console gaming experience is by no means average. Its not like I am sitting here playing GameCube. I love and enjoy every second of my gaming with my console. It just isn't so with my PC, or even with great PC's I have used.

Controller > Keyboard & Mouse

That's fine, you have a personal preference for controllers. I've got no problem with that. I've got a preference for keyboard & mouse that I could, if I spent enough time on it, prove categorically is superior to a controller for most types of video games. One could do the same thing with cars in any given category and prove that one is overall better than the other, that doesn't mean everyone's going to go with the "technically better" one.

I prefer PC gaming for more than just the keyboard and mouse; though that is a large part of it.

@Galen: I may end up having to do that for the next major round of consoles. The reason I haven't purchased a 360 is because the ONLY game I'd play on it is Madden. What is that, $450 to play Madden?

RolandDeschain wrote:Fine, if you interpreted it that way...but some of us don't like bottom-feeding in regards to video games. Consoles nowadays are like an average 4-door sedan, a good gaming computer is like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Some of us don't want the average gaming experience. If you think that's elitist, so be it. I've got legitimate reasons as to why I prefer computer gaming over console gaming in a major way.

Sort of offended at the "bottom-feeding in regards to video games" bit...My console gaming experience is by no means average. Its not like I am sitting here playing GameCube. I love and enjoy every second of my gaming with my console. It just isn't so with my PC, or even with great PC's I have used.

Controller > Keyboard & Mouse

That's fine, you have a personal preference for controllers. I've got no problem with that. I've got a preference for keyboard & mouse that I could, if I spent enough time on it, prove categorically is superior to a controller for most types of video games. One could do the same thing with cars in any given category and prove that one is overall better than the other, that doesn't mean everyone's going to go with the "technically better" one.

I prefer PC gaming for more than just the keyboard and mouse; though that is a large part of it.

@Galen: I may end up having to do that for the next major round of consoles. The reason I haven't purchased a 360 is because the ONLY game I'd play on it is Madden. What is that, $450 to play Madden?

you can probably score a 360 for between $100 and $150 used or refurbished... even less if its on craigslist with a broken dvd rom... (35-40 bucks fix) and the game for around 60... that puts you significantly lower than your $450 estimate. I have an XIM2 controller that allows me to use my pc mouse and keyboard as well for any games I choose... very cool hardware/software combo.

This lack of attention to Franchise Mode is getting near unforgivable. Why the hell they didn't just bring the pretty decent FM from the last gen to this one is baffling to me since it was pretty damned good then and could have been great with a few more tweaks. I had HIGH hopes for this year since I'd read that the guy responsible for Head Coach a few years ago (which was a great game that kept me off madden for two years) was given the task of restoring Franchise Mode to glory. Did they yank him off that or something, because I don't see a single change. I'd honestly have preferred a new and improved version of Head Coach than this version of Madden if they were going to waste his talents like that.

Anyways, rant off. I DO like the improvements in the physics engine this year. The look of the game is flat out awesome. I've only played one game so far, and that on pro mode just to get used to the new style. Leon Washington went for over 300 and Forsett and Jones both for over 100 and Whitehurst threw for 5 TD's in his half of the first pre-season game so I'm thinking I should increase the difficulty level a tad next time. I won't be sticking with the new gameplay feature. It would still be cool if you could use the gameplanning feature without it. Anyone know if that's possible? Might be pretty cool feature to be able to trim your playbook based on the weeks opponent.

Galen96 wrote:you can probably score a 360 for between $100 and $150 used or refurbished... even less if its on craigslist with a broken dvd rom... (35-40 bucks fix) and the game for around 60... that puts you significantly lower than your $450 estimate. I have an XIM2 controller that allows me to use my pc mouse and keyboard as well for any games I choose... very cool hardware/software combo.

Just picked this up for PS3 last night, played with the Madden Ultimate Team mode all night. It's addicting to buy packs of cards and build your team up from crap. My starter deck included Craig Terrill and Jabar Adams, hahaha.

80% of Planet Earth is covered by water.....The rest is covered by EARL THOMAS!

Galen96 wrote:you can probably score a 360 for between $100 and $150 used or refurbished... even less if its on craigslist with a broken dvd rom... (35-40 bucks fix) and the game for around 60... that puts you significantly lower than your $450 estimate. I have an XIM2 controller that allows me to use my pc mouse and keyboard as well for any games I choose... very cool hardware/software combo.

I was including the XIM2 cost.

ahh, gotcha... yeah, the XIM is spendy, but worth it in my opinion.... I absolutely love it for FPS's

Anyone else find Golden Tate to be a beast in this game? He catches damn near everything, then bowls over anyone that tries to arm tackle him. I bust off huge gains with him. Another beast is Justin Forsett, if he gets ANY room to the outsides dude is just gone.

80% of Planet Earth is covered by water.....The rest is covered by EARL THOMAS!

Mouse & Keyboard > Controller, always. It's a similar argument as Mac vs PC. One is more...eh..."user friendly", and the other has depth and the amount of skill PC players have is exponential. Anybody think they're good at BFBC2 or MW2 on console? Go play it on a PC, you will get owned.

sammyc521 wrote:I just played a game of Madden 11 and I think it's terrible.

Gameflow totally ruins the game for me. I know I can choose not to use it, but too many times I end up not knowing what play I'm running.

The audible system is terrible now; I have maybe 1-2 seconds to make pre-snap adjustments... terrible.

Glad I opted out of Madden this year and I'm super happy with NCAA 11.

All of your complaints are addressable or are going to be addressed soon.

EA is fixing the Audible system.

And go into your settings and turn it so Gameflow never comes on. Simple as that.

You are letting two very, very minor things "ruin" the best Madden game in 6 years.

The "best" Madden is still not that great. I'm sticking to buying Madden every 2-3 years maybe longer. It's sad that it's taken 6 years for the "best" Madden to emerge on the latest generation of consoles.

sammyc521 wrote:I just played a game of Madden 11 and I think it's terrible.

Gameflow totally ruins the game for me. I know I can choose not to use it, but too many times I end up not knowing what play I'm running.

The audible system is terrible now; I have maybe 1-2 seconds to make pre-snap adjustments... terrible.

Glad I opted out of Madden this year and I'm super happy with NCAA 11.

All of your complaints are addressable or are going to be addressed soon.

EA is fixing the Audible system.

And go into your settings and turn it so Gameflow never comes on. Simple as that.

You are letting two very, very minor things "ruin" the best Madden game in 6 years.

The "best" Madden is still not that great. I'm sticking to buying Madden every 2-3 years maybe longer. It's sad that it's taken 6 years for the "best" Madden to emerge on the latest generation of consoles.

I pray that they open up the license again...2K could beat them in a heartbeat

sammyc521 wrote:The "best" Madden is still not that great. I'm sticking to buying Madden every 2-3 years maybe longer. It's sad that it's taken 6 years for the "best" Madden to emerge on the latest generation of consoles.

I would love the NFL to drop exclusivity with EA. I always preferred EA to 2K's series, but that's when they were pushing each other to making a solid football game. I see more push from NCAA in regards to making a better football game... which is sad because it's the same company.

If they did open up the license again, I think that it would take a few years for 2K to get into a heated battle. Look no further than their previous football game. Being out the game has hurt them and they now have 7+ years to catch-up and that's not including the time it will take to open up the license.